Escondido group sprouts to support Kit Carson Park

Residents say they want more input on future of park

ESCONDIDO  Aiming to prevent any further development of popular Kit Carson Park, nearly 200 south Escondido residents have come together this summer to form the “Friends of Kit Carson Park” support group.

Many of the residents were among a larger group this spring that successfully blocked a proposed 9-acre water slide park from being constructed on the eastern edge of 300-acre Kit Carson Park.

Leaders of the new group say they want to become substantial enough that city officials seek their feedback before considering such proposals.

“We don’t want any more commercialization of the park,” said Grant Taylor, the group’s president. “Last time it was a water park. Next time it will be something else.”

In addition to the water park, group leaders say they wish the city had consulted them two years ago when Stone Brewing Co. proposed selling beer at the park’s adult softball complex and some nearby areas.

Stone abandoned the plan partly based on concerns raised by park users and nearby residents. But group leaders say that project, similar to the water park proposal, progressed too far along the city approval pipeline before resident feedback was sought.

“Some of these things can get pushed through really quickly,” said Ruth Weber, a member of the group’s steering committee. “If something gets fast-tracked, it could be too late to stop it when we find out.”

Mayor Sam Abed said he’s always interested in feedback from the public, but he criticized the new group as too political and too aggressive.

“They are creating fear and misleading the public,” he said.

Abed also said the group exaggerated how close the water park came to being approved. The developer had only made an informal proposal to the City Council’s economic development subcommittee when the residents mobilized, he said.

“We’ve never pushed and shoved any project on people,” he said, promising that resident feedback would be sought long before any projects proposed in Kit Carson Park get close to city approval.

Taylor, the group’s president, said the mayor’s criticisms were off base.

“We are not a political group in any way,” he said. “We won’t be endorsing candidates or raising money. We’re only concerned about Kit Carson Park.”

Taylor also said the group had no plans to mobilize residents unless there was good reason.

“We won’t be shooting from the hip,” he said.

Taylor said the group had no interest in “micromanaging” activities at the park, such as when the tennis courts get resurfaced or how much it costs to use the skatepark.

He said it was possible the group would organize park clean-ups and other support activities, but that the initial focus of group leaders had been on recruiting members and honing their mission.

The group recently established a “Friends of Kit Carson Park” Facebook page.

Kit Carson Park was created on land donated to Escondido in the 1960s.

City residents voted to allow Westfield North County regional mall to be constructed on 83 acres at the southern end of the park in 1986. The rest of the park features an art maze, playing fields, the Escondido Sports Center, tennis courts, a Frisbee golf course, picnic areas and other recreational amenities.